HOLIDAYS

Renewed
Hope and Expectation: The Church Season of Advent

By Kevin NuberGuest Writer

CBN.com
 "O Come, O Come Emmanuel!" This familiar
hymn reminds the church of the season of Advent, a time traditionally marked for
remembering the years of preparation and consecration prior to the coming of the
Messiah.

For many centuries, the Church has identified the beginning of the Christmas
celebration with a time of reflection and expectation called Advent.

The
word Advent means "coming" or "arrival" and, when used in conjunction with Christmas,
reminds us of the anticipation and expectation held over hundreds of years by
the people of Israel for their Messiah and promised King.

For centuries before
Christ, Hebrew rabbis methodically and passionately taught the Jewish people that
Messiah was coming. They taught that the people should be ready to embrace their
King when he appeared. They emphasized the need for holy living and obedience
to God's law.

This explains how the lowliest shepherds and fishermen of that day
were acquainted with the promises of a Messiah. This season of preparation was
all by God's design.

Today, we mark Advent in the Christian church with
the display of a wreath - its circle reminds us of God Himself, eternal and endlessly
merciful. It is evergreen - reminding us of the hope of eternal life.

The four
outer candles incorporated into the display represent the time of waiting and
preparation for the Messiah during the four Sundays of Advent (thought by many
theologians to represent the four hundred years of prophetic silence between Malachi
and the angelic visitations of the Gospels).

The light of the candles reminds
us of the Light of world, and the prophetic promise of His coming. The white central
candle of the Advent wreath, lighted at Christmas, reminds us of the fulfillment
of His first Advent and the pure, humble means by which He came.

Christians
today have tasted of His first coming as Savior, experiencing His forgiving grace
and saving power. Through study, we have learned about and embraced the truths
of His virgin birth, His sinless life, His atoning death, and His glorious resurrection.

The first Advent was the glorious manifestation of incarnation - the uniting of
God and man in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, born of a virgin in a lowly stable
in obscure Bethlehem Ephrata. This indeed was a magnificent and redeeming event
without comparison!

But all Christians must also appreciate and embrace
another significance in this season of Advent. This Church season is also a prime
opportunity to affirm the promise of Jesus that just as He came once, He would
one day in the future return to the earth as Sovereign Ruler.

The day He ascended
into heaven, two angels appeared and gave His disciples peace and comfort with
this promise: "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so
come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11 NKJV).

The Apostle
Paul revealed that "the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God" (I Thessalonians 4:16).

May all Christians in this season of Advent do more than observe a lifeless
church tradition. May the Church passionately encourage each other with the awesome
promise that Jesus readies Himself even now to return in splendor and majesty
- in a much different manner than His first advent.

He will then be revealed as
Sovereign of the Universe - King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and Victor over death,
hell and the grave.

There is a variety of theological thought and belief
concerning the timing of Christ's return, and the events preceding and following
His soon-coming return. Those discussions are valid and important.

Yet, the Church
must never lose sight of, nor lessen the value of the basic tenet of His Second
Coming, so lovingly and longingly held since the Early Church age. Then, as now,
reminding one another of Christ's promise to return is not only a strengthening
message of hope, but also an admonition to holy living and righteous expectation
of His potential revelation in glory.

In these days of tragedy, uncertainty,
and war, let the Church arise to her renewed hope and expectancy. In this Advent season, may we be even more encouraged, hopeful, and purposeful, looking with
passion for the second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Heavenly Father, we want to be watching and waiting
expectantly for the second Advent of Jesus Christ. We want to be living righteously
and uprightly in this troubled world, even as the Scripture has taught us.

Father,
our nation and the nations of the world have been rocked by the recent acts of
cruelty and evil. These tragedies were not directed against individual people,
but against goodness, justice, and faith. Help us to be strong and resolute, as
Christians, confidant of your promises, expecting the soon-coming return of Jesus
Christ.

Help us to demonstrate our confidence, passion, and love to a hurting
world. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen."